Virabhadra's March

Brahma said

Virabhadra heard Shri Mahesha's words lovingly, was very satisfied, bowed to Maheshvara and bent his head, accepting the command of the lord of gods, the trident-wielder. Then he quickly set out for the sacrifice. To add to the dazzle, Shiva sent crores of ganas along. With them the valiant one looked like the fire of dissolution. The powerful ganas went ahead of Virabhadra and brave ones followed behind, drawing curious looks. Hundreds of thousands of ganas went with him, companions in the form of time and destiny, all like Rudra in appearance. Great-souled Virabhadra wore attire and ornaments like Hara's. He had a thousand firm arms like the serpent king, and rode a chariot, powerful and terrifying. The chariots were so many that two thousand nalvas of ground were covered. Ten thousand lions strained to pull the vehicles, and powerful lions, tigers, makaras, fish and thousands of elephants served as flank guards. Virabhadra advanced quickly to destroy Daksha's sacrifice. The kalpavrikshas released a shower of flowers. The ganas praised the brave one, who was carrying out the task Shipi had instructed. As the march began, curiosity rose everywhere. Mahakali advanced to destroy Daksha with a host of bhutas, and the nine Durgas were with her: Kali, Katyayani, Ishani, Chamunda, Mundamardini, Bhadrakali, Bhadra, Tvarita and Vaishnavi. To destroy Daksha's sacrifice, dakinis, shakinis, bhutas, pramathas, guhyakas, kushmandas, parpatas, chatakas, brahmarakshasas, bhairavas and kshetrapalas swiftly came out. These brave ones were intent on obeying Shiva's command. There were sixty-four categories of yoginis, who rushed out enraged to destroy Daksha's sacrifice.

Narada, hear the numbers of the ganas. They were many, the chief ones strong and steady. Ganeshvara Shankukarna advanced with ten crores. Kekaraksha had ten crores and Vikrita eight. Vishakha had sixty-four crores and Pariyatrika nine. Brave Sarvankaka and Vikritanana had six crores each. Jvalakesha, bull among ganas, had twelve crores. Samadjjiman had seven crores and Dudrabha eight. Kapalisha had five crores and Sandaraka six. Kotikunda had crores and crores. Brave Vishtambha, supreme among ganas, had eight crores. Sannada and Pippala each had a thousand crores. Aveshana and Chandrapatana had eight crores each, and Mahavesha, leader of ganas, a thousand crores. Kundi and the excellent gana Parvata had twelve crores each. Kala, Kalaka and Mahakala each had a hundred crores. Agnikrit had a hundred crores and Agnimukha a crore. Adityamurdha and Ghanavaha had a crore each. Sannaha had a hundred crores and Kumuda a crore. Amogha and Kokila, lord of ganas, each had crores and crores. Kashthagudha, Sukeshi, Vrishabha and Sumantraka, lord of ganas, each advanced with sixty crores, as did Kakapadodara and Santanaka. Mahabala and Pungava had nine crores each. Madhupinga, leader of ganas, went with ninety crores; Nila and Purnabhadra had the same number each. Chaturvakra, leader of ganas, went with a hundred crores. Kashthaguda, Sukesha and Vrishabha had sixty-four crores each. Virupaksha, leader of ganas, had sixty-four crores, and so did Talaketu, Shadashya and Panchasya. Samvartaka, the lord Kulisha, Lokantaka, Diptatma, Daityantaka, Bhringiriti, Devadevapriya, Ashani and Bhalaka had sixty-four thousand ganas each. Following Shiva's command, valiant Virabhadra, lord of all the brave, advanced surrounded by crores and thousands of crores, hundreds, and twenty times that number. As he marched rapidly, thousands of crores of bhutas and three crores of canine ganas born from body hair went with him. Drums sounded loudly with many kinds of conch and horn notes, all emerging from Hara's mouth and matted hair, and many instruments were played at that great festival. The sound spread everywhere and bound everything in a pleasant tie. So Virabhadra marched with his army, and many pleasant portents were seen again and again.